Stoughton Resident Honors Wife Who Took Her Own Life by Taking Part in Suicide Prevention Walk

The following is a press release:

More than 2,500 runners, walkers, families and team members will support Samaritans’ mission to prevent suicide at the 14th Annual “Run For Someone Else’s Life” 5K Run/Walk and Family Fun Festival on Saturday, September 29 along the Charles River.

The importance of a caring, compassionate community is emphasized at the event, in which more than 150 teams will be organized in memory of loved ones lost to suicide.

Money raised from registration fees, pledges and corporate sponsorships will help Samaritans and its volunteers ease the despair, pain and loneliness suffered by so many individuals in our area. Samaritans believes that when people are heard and when they feel comforted, the entire community benefits.

One of the inspiring teams participating in his year’s event that has experienced the life-changing work of Samaritans is “Pam’s Peeps”. Their team captain, Robert McGuiness of Stoughton is participating in the walk for the first time following the loss of his wife, Pamela last year.

He said: “My wife Pamela took her life on May 3, 2011. Pam battled with the insidious disease of depression for a number of years but the disease was stronger than she was."

"Pam and I were together for 38 years. I treasure each one of those days. Samaritans have been very good to me in dealing with my (our) loss," he continued.

"I am participating in the 5K because Pam was such a giving person I want to give back in her memory. I also want to help raise funds and awareness for Samaritans and its life-saving suicide prevention work”.

This year’s 5K event hopes to raise more than $250,000 for Samaritans’ mission to reduce the incidence of suicide in the Greater Boston community.

Pam’s Peeps Team has set an ambitious fundraising goal of $15,000 and is looking for support from the residents of Stoughton. To make a donation go to:
https://sna.etapestry.com/fundraiser/Samaritans/5K2012/team.do?participationRef=1834.0.710064172

Samaritans 5K is the only suicide prevention walk in the Commonwealth that provides financial support to the 24/7 crisis lines answered by Samaritans, including those calls answered from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. All of the proceeds generated from the 5K stay in Massachusetts and fund life-saving suicide prevention services.

Samaritans is a locally based non-profit organization serving the communities of Greater Boston and MetroWest for the past 38 years. Samaritans volunteers answer more than 10,000 phone calls to its 24/7 and Samariteens telephone helplines each month. The agency also trains more than 200 volunteers and instructs more than 10,000 individuals through its community education and outreach programs each year. And thousands of individuals and families who have been personally impacted by suicide have been helped through Samaritans’ grief support groups.

For more information on Samaritans visit www.samaritanshope.org or call 617-536-2460.

Samaritans 24/7 helplines:
* Boston 617 247-0220
* Framingham 508 875-4500
* Samaritans Statewide Toll Free Helpline 877 870 HOPE (4673)
* Teens: 1 800 252 TEEN (8336)